Mission and History

Mission

The mission of Ryan’s Place is to provide support in a safe environment where grieving children, teens and their families can share their experience as they move through the healing process. Ryan’s Place is dedicated to all children who grieve.

Vision

We believe that no child or family should grieve the death of a loved one alone.

History

What is it like for children and teens when someone close to them dies? Where do they go for help? Adults are often so overwhelmed with the death they are unable to provide the grief support children need.

Ryan’s Place is named in honor of Ryan Gleim, who died in 1992 at the age of 20. Ryan’s parents, Rex and Nancy Gleim, were able to find support groups for themselves, but not for Ryan’s younger sibling. The concept of a children’s grief center was an unmet need identified by therapists Don and Eunice Munn of Middlebury, Indiana as they attempted to counsel grieving families. In April 1999 the Munn’s and Gleim’s began the movement for a children’s grief center in the community. Ryan’s Place was founded in 2002. Now, Ryan’s Place provides children, teens and their families with a safe, supportive environment where they can share their experiences of death. Children and their parents meet in separate groups where they can gather alongside adult volunteers who choose to be companions on this journey. Since opening in January 2002, Ryan’s Place has served more than 8,000 individuals and now serves over 700 individuals each year.

In order to ensure Ryan’s Place is accessible to all grieving children, there is no fee for our services.